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I've done a search on this topic and, weirdly, there aren't loads of relevant replies.

In the past we've always used a gas lamp which gave a good light but which also made me constantly worry about accidents which then made me reluctant to use it in the tent.

Seeing as we now need to replace the gas and the mantle, I'm thinking that maybe we should be switching to a battery or wind up powered lamp.

Has anyone got any good recommendations for a safe lamp that gives a good light e.g so that we can carry on playing cards outside while it's getting dark?

Thanks.

I guess you are not looking for electric?

If you were I can recommend what we use which is a mechanics inspection light (tube type) that can be hung uner the car bonnet, we hang this from the middle of our tent and can comfortably read by it, I think we bought it from Screwfix.

I have a couple of different battery type lamps, which are only really glorified torches but you could huddle round them for a game of cards.

Here's an idea, why don't camping shops have dark rooms where you could go in and try out the different torches

Probably the best battery lantern around at the moment is the Outwell 400LX also branded Eureka amongst others.

It uses 4 Cree LED's to do the business, and runs of 6 "D" cell batteries, so best buy rechargeables at £1.50 each from Lidl.

Althought for a LED lantern it is uber bright, it is still only about half as bright as a single mantle CampinGaz lantern.

You could go for one of the lanterns that use a 7watt fluorecent tube, like the Lidl £20 units that run of 4 "D" cell batteries, brighter than the Outwell, but Flu tubes tend to atract flying insects like nothing else, so personaly I would avoid them.

Hi hik01.

             That's the same lantern as the Outwell 300LX , the Chinese firm distributing these is called Favaourlight, and the lantern goes under many brands, it is smaller than the Outwell 400LX but of the same design, the 300LX uses 3 "D" cell batteries.

No doubt there will be a 500LX and a 600LX out next season, and so it goes on, untill will get a battery LED lantern that is as bright as a single mantel CampinGaz lantern.

Hi All,

We always have a couple of these type of lights. We got ours from Aldi and find them great as if you have a EHU you can have them pluged in and if the power trips you are not plunged into darkness. Also they are robust and you don't have to worry about them getting knocked, droped etc. The ones that we got from Aldi were £1 more expensive but they have 60 LED's not just 23.

Hi Francais,

We have been using these for 3 yrs now no problem. You can also use them pluged into your EHU so they are mains powered. also if you look at the cost of gas or batteries for non EHU sites even when they do start to fail the total cost is less than that of replacing the lamps. My brother who use's one of these for his work has one that the batteries have failed, however he continues to use it off mains or 12v car power no problem(as he is a electrician he assures me that it quite safe to use like that).

I most modern rechargable items use Mi-MH or Li-Ion which have a far longer life than the old Ni-Cad rechargables that had a relitively short recharging life due to the memory effect they suffered from. so as long as when you dispose of them properly at your local recycling  when you don't want them any more there shouldn't be a problem.